Description

*NOTE*: WinterBoard requires you to have "root" access on your device. You also must install Cydia Substrate *before* installing WinterBoard.

WinterBoard is a "theme engine" that allows you to use the numerous themes you may find in the Google Play Store on your device without having to install custom ROMs or use custom launchers. It allows you to use almost any launcher icon theme with your stock launcher and supports "Theme Chooser" themes without CyanogenMod.

This is accomplished using a modification to the software on your device managed using Substrate, a code modification platform. You will therefore also have to install Substrate to use WinterBoard. You can find Substrate in the Google Play Store; if you attempt to use WinterBoard without Substrate, you will be directed to install Substrate.

Users may recognize the name WinterBoard: we distribute a similar program for Apple's iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Available to users via Cydia, the alternative to the App Store for users of "jailbroken" devices, WinterBoard is used by tens of million users worldwide, supporting well over ten thousand known themes of varying complexity.

Artists who want to make themes compatible with WinterBoard do not do anything special: the goal of WinterBoard is to support themes designed for most other theme systems. In specific, you can use themes designed for ADW Launcher, GO Launcher Ex, Launcher Pro, dxTop, and the T-Mobile/CyanogenMod Theme Chooser platform.

Please note, however, that WinterBoard is still under development: while the core features of these themes will likely work, many others might not. The priority for launcher themes has been "icon packs". It is a goal of WinterBoard to support as many features of these themes as possible, so users should check back later for updates.

Within WinterBoard, users will see a list of themes that they have installed on their system. To activate themes, click the entry to mark them with a check. Yes, you can turn on multiple themes ;P. Themes override each other based on their order in the list: to move them around you drag them up and down using the handles on the right.

When using Theme Chooser themes, please understand that these are often tailored to the specific version of the firmware you are running, and that even finding a theme for the "equivalent" version of CyanogenMod to what you have installed might not have everything aligned for the theme: things may look awkward or simply be missing.

The expectation is that, like on iOS, people will eventually start building themes optimized specifically for the stock software that can be used with WinterBoard. The result is that, just as you find themes currently that claim compatibility with certain versions of CyanogenMod, themes might claim support for "Android 4.2 w/ TouchWiz".

(WinterBoard requests the ACCESS_SUPERUSER permission, but only uses it to restart the system to apply your new themes. It does not physically modify any of the stock software stored on your device: all modifications are made dynamically via Substrate, so uninstalling WinterBoard is guaranteed to remove all traces of its installation.)

If, while using WinterBoard, you run into any problems (such as it crashes on boot, preventing your device from starting), please remember that Substrate has a safety feature built into it: you can hold your device's volume up button to temporarily disable Substrate so that WinterBoard is not loaded, and then your device boots correctly.

The launcher icon pack and Theme Chooser theme that are used in the screenshots are both available from the Play Store. The former is free, while the latter costs money (sorry, not my product; I will attempt to find another theme that works well together for the example screenshots in the future, but my goal right now is to get this released ;P).

Reviews

3.5

1,487 total

5 746

4 134

3 130

2 89

1 388

Shawn Grisham

Well there's a name I haven't seen in a while... Saurik! Glad you're coming over to the better side, even more glad you're developing for us now lmao great job saurik, keep it up man, fan from 2009 here. Loved the work you did for iOS but I defected to android in 2010. Hope to see this live up to its legacy

Yamir Ortiz

Working Partially I have installed both of the packages correctly i believe. The substrate app tells me that I need to use the default android browser to view "cydia" webpage. The problem is that I am using the dafault browser. Dont know if this is a bug or just my cheap tablet. Really hoping that ayecon makes it to android one day. Good job Jay.

Steven Young

Bootloop I use Next 3D Launcher on my rooted Galaxy Note II but this sent it into a tailspin. Now I have an un-bootable phone. My ROM didn't have native theme support. That's why I tried this in the first place. My NAND backups won't restore now, either, even from my pc.

Jonny V

Not all winter board - friendly themes are winterboard - friendly Problem is you have to use themes that are winterboard compatible only. Several themes claim to be winterboard compatible but they are not, and if you use them its a boot loop or springboard crash. The only way to fix it is to completely remove substrate and winterboard and the themes and reinstall winterboard and substrate. If you get stuck in a loop, you have to hard reset and then hold volume up after it starts rebooting. Just like on an Apple device, except you press volume up after it starts.

Tyler Brewer

Excited Cant wait to see where this goes. For people trying to them a device with an OEM ui, aka non aosp ROM, it's not gonna happen. Maybe eventually, but for now I see this only working on aosp devices (nexus)

Jack Jamieson

Issue with messaging app So the app itself works fine (exactly as advertised) on my Nexus 4. Problem is that it broke my messaging app - the stock Google one. Running stock Jelly Bean 4.2.2 just rooted, nothing weird. Really want this to work - please try to fix it, this app has so much promise!

User reviews

Shawn Grisham August 19, 2016

Well there's a name I haven't seen in a while... Saurik! Glad you're coming over to the better side, even more glad you're developing for us now lmao great job saurik, keep it up man, fan from 2009 here. Loved the work you did for iOS but I defected to android in 2010. Hope to see this live up to its legacy

Working Partially I have installed both of the packages correctly i believe. The substrate app tells me that I need to use the default android browser to view "cydia" webpage. The problem is that I am using the dafault browser. Dont know if this is a bug or just my cheap tablet. Really hoping that ayecon makes it to android one day. Good job Jay.

Bootloop I use Next 3D Launcher on my rooted Galaxy Note II but this sent it into a tailspin. Now I have an un-bootable phone. My ROM didn't have native theme support. That's why I tried this in the first place. My NAND backups won't restore now, either, even from my pc.

Not all winter board - friendly themes are winterboard - friendly Problem is you have to use themes that are winterboard compatible only. Several themes claim to be winterboard compatible but they are not, and if you use them its a boot loop or springboard crash. The only way to fix it is to completely remove substrate and winterboard and the themes and reinstall winterboard and substrate. If you get stuck in a loop, you have to hard reset and then hold volume up after it starts rebooting. Just like on an Apple device, except you press volume up after it starts.

Excited Cant wait to see where this goes. For people trying to them a device with an OEM ui, aka non aosp ROM, it's not gonna happen. Maybe eventually, but for now I see this only working on aosp devices (nexus)

Issue with messaging app So the app itself works fine (exactly as advertised) on my Nexus 4. Problem is that it broke my messaging app - the stock Google one. Running stock Jelly Bean 4.2.2 just rooted, nothing weird. Really want this to work - please try to fix it, this app has so much promise!

After further usage None of the themes I've tried work correctly. Tried on 3 devices, gb, ics and, jellybean pretty much same results on all. When I apply themes it works for a while then statusbar icons go back and forth between stock Nd theme.

Finally! I've missed this so much since I left iOS 2 years ago. I tried using CyanogenMod but I missed stock for my phone...only reason this isn't a 5 is because it isn't open source like it is on the iOS and i really want the source to improve how the app its self looks. Also releasing the source (or getting developers from xda) would increase the bug fixing rate by a LOT. Hopefully you do release the source. Also people look at when this was released before complaining about bugs...this app just came out (and is barely alpha IMO) So this isn't going to work 100%. My guess is it will take a few weeks/months to get it working on most phones.

Time 4 change Coming from the iOS world I can honestly say im looking forward to start fresh...I currently have a very cool theme on cydia (geare of war) that I will try here on android Hopefully the android Ui is no different (:

Love this app! I've been using this app on my stock rooted Nexus 4. Even though the status bar and apps attributes don't yet apply, this app helps me enjoy the stability of stock Rom with different skins.

Doesn't work 3 stars for support but I couldn't get tiny white icons or flow to work. Did the restart zygote thing and I'm on stock jellybean rooted Sgh-T989 (GS2 T-Mobile) please support me, I love Cydia on iOS and I can't believe you started on android!

Not working yet I know it was just released so I definitely wouldn't rate one star. But if anyone is using a Droid X on MIUI 2.3 then you shouldn't use this yet. It made my phone freeze and want me to wait or force close system and made me loose signal completely. At least Substrate can be disabled while booting.

Meh Works, but there are so many other options on android, most custom Roms have a theme engine, and there us is an exposed module for theme's as well, and from what I hear it's closed source... That don't sit well with the android modding community... Although overlaying multiple themes could be cool if I had an eternity to mess with it.

Really good.. but think it needs an update On stock 4.4.2 (Nexus 5), getting crashes in Google Maps 7.5.0 (latest @ review) and also in Play Store 4.5.10 (latest @ review). In Maps can replicate over and over by entering a search term, and then clicking on presented results list button on right of search field. Logcat implied an overflow due to java.lang.OutOfMemoryError by com.saurik.substrate. I disabled Substrate/softboot and error went away. Also tried disabling Xposed (in case of a conflict) and re-enabled Cydia Subtrate but got error again - fairly certain Cydia/Winterboard is facing an issue drawing some types of resources. Would love it if this was fixed !

Does what it's supposed to.. Installed it on my Nexus 4 and Transformer Tab. Works flawlessly with the CM themes I've tried so far. This is a great addition to the android theme. Specially for the devices without custom roms

good one it's an amazing app indeed but unfortunately I'm suffering continuous system crashes after setting up some themes (2-3) and sometimes the crash never stops...another bug I'm facing is that I'm facing low memory after using the asp even after force close N.B. I'm using JellyBam ROM 7.8 while using this app wishing a better more stable release of this app would be released soon and thanks a lot dude ;)

High hopes As one of the millions who used Cydia to keep my iPhones from becoming too boring, I had high hopes for Winterboard and the Cydia substrate. Unfortunately my stock rooted Note 2 is getting no satisfaction at all. I'll keep hoping for future improvements that'll let me use Theme Chooser CM themes.

Yeah ok Installed Cydia and Winterboard fine, installed a CM10 theme to test, applied it in Winterboard and bit the Zygote button but... Phone restarted fine and booted yet no theme was applied, to test I simply went to system settings and all was stock.

Read for better use Works great on my rooted note II customization is def there. Works a heck of a lot better on a theme based ROM. What I do is go to theme launcher choose say go ogle bean then go to winter board and choose cobalt red......the combination and play of the to is amazing Theme chooser then winterboard for better use!!!

Not working??? The installation is fine on my Optimus Black running Stock LG ICS ROM, then I install Lucid theme for CM9/10 and turn it on on Winterboard, then reboot, but nothing change??? Hope it will work in next update :) I really really like this app :)

Doesn't work on Razr M I just installed Substrate, and then installed winterboard, and it asked me to restart substrate, and since the reload button in substrate didn't seem to do anything I just rebooted my entire phone, and now I can only get to my safestrap recovery menu. My phone won't boot into the os.

Needs a lot of work LG optimus g stock and rooted, everything installed correct, tried crimson cobalt and all themes in this apps screenshot and none work except the small white icons but it only changed icons in the quick access bubbles on lockscreen. Really want this to work (stock Rom with cm themes would be awesome)

Not Working on S4 Well i m a big fan of cydia and after reading a article i did try installing winterboard and few themes but it does not apply and nothing changes including the one in screen shot also may be i ll have to wait till it suports all the device

Not working I uninstalled winterboard even though it did ask for permission and I have installed substrate and restarted but still no amount of combinations have worked I keep getting the message in WB to complete install of substrate and cydia is in super user always allow list

Should be removed This is another fail be jay freeman and I wish he would just stick to I phones as he no good as making apps for droid as they don't work or do anything but sit there taking up space I'm glad I didn't have to pay for this I would want a refund if I had to pay its crap n don't work.

What's New

In WinterBoard 0.9.3921, I detect if WinterBoard and Substrate are both installed, but that somehow WinterBoard does not have the required permission to use Substrate. I did not realize that downloading WinterBoard and Substrate from the Play Store would have a check-and-the-egg problem with defining and activating the security permission. I will look into a better solution to this going forward. In the mean time, 0.9.3921 detects this and asks the user to uninstall and reinstall WinterBoard :(.